Vehicle prompts military warning
Rollovers involving trucks result in 5 deaths.
Vehicle prompts military warning

By The Associated Press Comments 2
Published: July 25, 2008

WASHINGTON — The towering trucks that give U.S. troops the best protection against roadside bombs and enemy bullets also make them vulnerable to routine hazards like sharp turns, rutted roads and rickety bridges.

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BY THE NUMBERS

The number of MRAP-related accidents between November and June, according to Defense Department statistics.

Approximate number of MRAP-related accidents that involved a rollover caused by bad roads, weak bridges or driver error.

Five deaths caused by rollovers and dozens of other accidents in Iraq and Afghanistan have led U.S. military leaders to warn troops to be smart behind the wheel, according to military documents obtained by The Associated Press and accident reports released under the Freedom of Information Act.

The message is especially relevant in Afghanistan, where a resurgent Taliban has boosted demand for these steel cocoons, known as MRAPs. Due to the country's mountainous terrain and unpaved roads, officials will send nearly 800 more RG-31s, the smallest of several different MRAPs the military now uses.

Yet even at a comparatively nimble 9 tons, the RG-31 is not immune from tipping.

On June 29, three Green Berets drowned when theirs rolled into a canal in southern Afghanistan. The accident is under investigation.

The MRAPs — the military's acronym for "mine-resistant, ambush-protected” — get high marks from commanders for protecting U.S. personnel from enemy attack.

Close to 7,000 of the vehicles are already in use in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Pentagon is buying at least that many more.

Despite their bulk, the MRAPs have power steering, air brakes and quick acceleration. These features lull drivers into thinking they're handling a bigger version of the smaller and more agile Humvee.

Why the trucks are at risk

"Road shoulders in the Middle East do not meet U.S. standards and may collapse under the weight of the MRAP, especially when the road is above grade and can fall to lower ground,” the Marine Corps newsletter cautions.

The trucks are tall, heavy, have a raised chassis and V-shaped hulls. The high-rise design shoves the impact of an underbelly blast out and away from the crew inside. The weight keeps the vehicle from being tossed into the air. But the lifesaving geometry has a cost.

"What you're giving up when you do that is the low center of gravity that provides you the sure-footedness,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, the Marine Corps officer who manages the MRAP program.